Harris is truly an innovator. For over 30 years, Emmylou has flowed effortlessly between genres achieving popularity in pop, folk, country and now alternative. The common bridge is an exquisite vocal style and a gift for discovering the heart of a song.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 2, 1947, the daughter of Walter and Eugenia Harris grew up near Washington, D.C. As a college student in the late 60s, she sang with a local folk duo and eventually moved to Greenwich Village. She played the clubs on the local folk scene occasionally sharing the stage with Jerry Jeff Walker and David Bromberg.
Discovered in 1971 by Chris Hillman, Hillman brought Gram Parsons to hear her sing in a small club in the Washington D.C. area. In 1972, she answered the call from Gram to join him in Los Angeles to work on his first solo album, "GP." According to Songfacts, Parsons tragic early death in 1973 left Harris at an emotional and musical crossroads. Her earliest signature song, Boulder To Birmingham was written shortly after Gram's death, and it showed the depth of her shock and pain at losing her friend and mentor.
After the loss of Gram, Emmylou went back to the D.C. area and formed a country band, playing with them until her 1975 major label debut, Pieces of the Sky, when she formed the first version of the legendary Hot Band. Over the years the Hot Band included world class players such as Albert Lee, Rodney Crowell and Hank DeVito.
Emmylou has been called by Billboard Magazine a "truly venturesome, genre-transcending pathfinder." Throughout her career, she has been admired for her talent as an artist and song connoisseur, but it was with her 2000 album, Red Dirt Girl, for which Ms. Harris was awarded her tenth (out of eleven total to date) Grammy, that she revealed she is also a gifted songwriter. Continuing the trend with her September 2003 album, Stumble Into Grace, Emmylou wrote ten of the album's eleven tracks. Though Emmylou is the most admired and influential woman in contemporary country music, her scope extends far beyond it. She has recorded with such diverse artists as Ryan Adams, Beck, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Tammy Wynette, Neil Young, The Chieftains, Lyle Lovett, Roy Orbison, The Band, Willie Nelson and George Jones.
She sings with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt on the incomparable albums Trio and Trio II, making all three artists living American legends.
A longtime social activist, Harris has lent her voice to many causes. She is active in cultural preservation issues, notably the Country Music Foundation and the Grand Ole Opry. As an animal rights activist and the owner of several dogs and cats, Emmylou also supports PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Humane Society. Since 1997 she has been the most visible spokesperson for the Campaign for a Landmine Free World, drawing public attention and notable musical artists to the cause.
Bad News
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's been a wreck on the highway
Drivin' fast in distress
Hit a curve and died in the darkness
He'll never know how much I lose
Bad news
Bad news sirens whine
Johnny Walker by his side
Always our there lookin' for the last ride
He'll never know how much I lose
Bad news
Emmylou Harris's song Bad News is a melancholic country ballad that delves deep into the sadness and regret of losing someone close to you. The lyrics describe a tragic accident on the highway in which a person, who was driving fast and in distress, crashed and died in the darkness. The singer, who is grieving the loss of this person, acknowledges that he will never know how much she has lost. The sirens of the emergency vehicles and the reckless lifestyle of the lost person are also mentioned in the song. The lyrics are poignant and heartfelt, expressing the sorrow and longing that accompany death and loss.
The song was written by Rodney Crowell, a prolific country musician who has worked with Harris on many occasions. It was released on her 1981 album, Cimarron, which was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. The album features other country hits such as "If I Needed You" and "Born to Run." Harris's cover of Bad News showcases her soulful voice and her ability to convey deep emotions through music. It is a testament to the power of the country genre to address universal themes of love, loss, and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad news black day
Today is a terrible day filled with sorrow and bad news
There's been a wreck on the highway
A car crash has occurred on the main road
Drivin' fast in distress
The driver was in a hurry, perhaps out of desperation or panic
Hit a curve and died in the darkness
The driver lost control of the vehicle and unfortunately passed away in the dark
He'll never know how much I lose
The artist mourns the loss of the driver, but will never be able to express their emotions to them
Bad news sirens whine
The sound of police or ambulance sirens imply that something terrible has happened
He rode the devil down the white line
The driver took risks while driving, putting themselves in danger on the road
Johnny Walker by his side
The driver was likely under the influence of alcohol while driving
Always our there lookin' for the last ride
The driver may have been searching for some sort of thrill or adrenaline rush, always putting themselves in danger
He'll never know how much I lose
Once again, the artist laments the loss of the driver, realizing that they will never truly know or understand the impact of their actions
Bad news
Another reminder that this situation is filled with sadness and misfortune
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EMMYLOU HARRIS, PAUL KENNERLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind